Launched in 2019 by the French Tech Mission, French Tech Next40/120 is a government support programme dedicated to the 120 most successful French start-ups with the potential to become world-class leaders. For one year, they will receive support tailored to their development challenges in France and abroad.
Launched in 2019 by the French Tech Mission, French Tech Next40/120 is a government support programme dedicated to the 120 most successful French start-ups with the potential to become world-class leaders. For one year, they will receive support tailored to their development challenges in France and abroad. Applications for the 6th promotion are now open
About the Programme
This programme gives France’s biggest start-ups a high profile both nationally and internationally. It promotes products and services that have become essential to our daily lives, as well as disruptive innovations that meet the major challenges of ecological transition, re-industrialisation and technological sovereignty.
French Tech Next40/120 aims to provide individual and collective support on strategic issues such as international development, financing, recruitment, access to major public and private sector market, local presence, intellectual property, regulatory issues, etc….
Selection criteria
Start-ups are selected on an objective-based criteria allowing us to assess their growth potential, either by evaluating its customers’ confidence (revenue growth) or its investors’ (fundraising).
Next40, 40 best-performing start-ups
For the “sales growth” section, which assesses economic performance through customer confidence:
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At least 100 million euros in net sales in the last financial year, and at least 15% annual growth over 3 years (20 places, awarded in descending order of sales).
For the “fundraising” section, which evaluates economic performance in terms of investor confidence:
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Highest cumulative fundraising between January 2022 and April 2025 (20 places, awarded in descending order of amount).
French Tech 120, 80 high-potential start-ups
For the “sales growth” section:
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At least 10 million euros in sales and 15% average annual growth over 3 years (40 places, awarded in descending order of sales).
For the “fundraising” section:
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Have the highest cumulative fundraising figures between January 2022 and April 2025 (40 places, awarded in descending order of amount).
Commitments
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On ecological transition, having performed a carbon audit between 2022 and 2025 that covers scopes 1, 2 and 3.
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On parity, communicating their professional equality index. This index must score at least 75, or else be accompanied by an action plan to achieve it (the higher a company’s performance on the equality index, the more points it will receive, with a maximum of 100).
Service offer
The start-ups selected within the French Tech Next40/120 will benefit from a dedicated support programme for one year, operated by the French Tech Mission teams.
93% of the start-ups supported in 2022 consider that this programme has been an asset fortheir business the development of (survey carried out among the class of 2022 in December 2022).
This support is divided into five components:
A dedicated start-up manager
Within the French Tech Mission, the start-up managers dedicated to the French Tech Next40/120 programme have a portfolio of companies. Their job is to identify the companies’ priority issues, activate the appropriate service offering and liaise with the network of French Tech Correspondents.
Improved visibility
Companies will be able to take part in initiatives designed to raise their profile, both in France and internationally, such as taking part in events, promoting French Tech Next40/120 in the media and taking part in international delegations via the French Tech Capitals and Communities network.
Support on regulatory and standards issues
The French Tech Mission will provide legal advice on regulatory and standards issues, and will also call on the programmes’ partners (Agence de l’innovation en santé, INPI, CNIL, etc.).
Events to share experience and expertise
Laureates have access to the French Tech Mission events on a range of issues including financing, recruitment, international development, ecological transition, external growth, parity, inclusion and diversity.
Tailor-made support from the French Tech Correspondents network
This network brings together 60 government departments and public services, partners of the French Tech Mission that have rallied round to contribute to the start-ups success (Bpifrance, Business France, UGAP, Banque de France, Urssaf, AFNOR, DGFIP, etc).
About 2024’s promotion
Laureates Next 40
Laureates French Tech 120
up from 7,5 billion in 2022
generated by French Tech Next40/120 companies, 70% in France
have an international presence
in the French Tech Next40/120 (30% of the class of 2024)
Testimonials
We’re delighted have joined the French Tech 120 and to see our growth, expertise and innovation rewarded. We are contributing to the challenges of decarbonising businesses and our economy, and therefore our country’s sovereignty. So we’re all the more delighted that French Tech is taking up these issues.
Download the press kit – Announcement of the 2024 French Tech Next40/120 laureates
Discover the 120 winning start-ups in the French Tech Next40/120 support programme. You’ll also find the selection criteria, their challenges as winners and the ambitions of the programme.
PDF – 1.06 MB
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